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“We’ve talked for at least a million hours since we first met. There are very few people I know as well as I know you. You’re not rushing anything. I’ve come all this way to see you,” I take his large hand and pull him into the room, and it occurs to me for the first time that he might be as nervous as I am. “Look at this fabulous room. It’s gorgeous. Thank you.”
Despite the opulence of the room, the bed is the dominant feature. Or at least I feel it is. Enough to make me conscious I’m in a beautiful room with a bed and a handsome man.
Sem looks attractive in a casual linen suit unbuttoned just enough to hint at a muscular chest, and his long blonde hair pulled back to give just enough of a Viking feel to be sexy but not political. I look into his grey eyes and bite my lower lip, trying to entice him to kiss me.
One of his hands cups my cheek, and he leans down, and just as our lips finally touch…
“Housekeeping.” A knock at the door.
Sem and I share a smile, and then I turn and open the door. A smiling man asks if I’d like any towels or my bed turned down. I politely tell him I don’t need anything and then put the “Do not disturb” sign on my door.
I return to Sem, who has opened my balcony door that overlooks the sea. I go to his side, the warm salt air caressing my skin. My hand finds his.
“It’s surreal,” I say.
“I agree.” He squeezes my hand and then puts his arms around me from behind. I feel so safe. I don’t know how I could have ever thought this would be any different than it is right now. Perfect.
A few minutes pass, and I ask him, “Do you really want to go to dinner?”
Nineteen
Sem
Gazing into Ivy’s green eyes, I can think of a thousand things I’d rather do than sit across a table from her. But I can’t do them. I need to adhere to the laws of the Empire and the goddesses. I must control myself. But it isn’t easy when she looks so enchanting. She’s wearing the most alluring dress with little blue flowers on it and the bracelet I gave her from my Known Jewelry, my prized possession. It’s intoxicating to see her like this.
“I’m hungry,” I say, and it’s no lie, just not for food. I want to consume her.
She gives me a sweet smile, her pink human lips tempting me. “Then we better get you some food. Just let me fix my hair.”
“Let me,” I say. And then she looks at me as if my Dulu holo might not be working. I quickly bring my hand to my neck and check the pendant. It’s fine.
“Is that a Viking charm or something?”
“Something like that,” I match her joking tone. “Did I say something wrong? Why did you give me that look? I’ve long hair.”
“I’ve just never had a man I was romantically interested in ask me if I wanted him to do my hair.”
“No man has ever brushed your hair?”
“Not one that I wasn’t paying.”
“A prostitute?”
“No, a hairdresser.” She nudges me playfully.
“Oh…” I nudge her back very lightly. “Lead the way.” I follow her through the small white rooms to the bathroom, and she hands me her brush. And I begin to brush her dark hair. It’s wonderful, and I’m fascinated by the waves in it. “Have you always had this length of hair?” I ask.
“When I was a girl, I had really long braids. My father liked having a daughter with braids.”
“But?”
“But when I was eleven, I had them cut off.”
“Then what?” I ask, imagining her rebellious spirit as a girl. Did she offer them as a sacrifice?
“I put them in a box. I still have them.”
“You still have them?”
